THANKSGIVING · STORYTIME & KINDNESS
Thanksgiving Storytime & a Gratitude Activity for Kids
A table does not have to look perfect to feel welcoming. Share a story, color a familiar friend, and notice the people and small kindnesses that make your family’s day brighter.
In Hattie Hops and the Thankful Table, Hattie has carefully arranged her Thanksgiving table. Welcoming her new neighbor Pip means changing those plans—and discovering something more important than a perfect place setting.
A gratitude activity for kids: no printer or purchase needed
You can enjoy this part before buying a book or downloading any coloring pages. Give each person a sheet of paper and invite them to draw someone or something they appreciate. Use one of these prompts to get started:
- Who helped you with something this week?
- What small thing made you smile today?
- Who could you invite to join you next time?
A younger child can point or draw while a grown-up writes their words. A child who enjoys writing can add one sentence explaining why their choice matters. Share only if you want to, then choose a small kindness to do together. For a longer storytime, continue with the book and optional printables below.
Gather your storytime supplies
- The 28-page storybook PDF on a shared screen or printed for personal use.
- Plain paper and crayons or colored pencils.
- Optional: a favorite design from the Thankful Table coloring book.
The book and coloring pack are sold separately. Plain paper works beautifully for the activity, too. Allow about 20–30 minutes, or enjoy the reading and coloring at different times.
Read together, with room to wonder
Start with the cover: “What makes this table look welcoming?” Let your child point out a face, a food, or a cozy detail. Read at a comfortable pace, pausing only when a question feels natural.
- When Hattie sees Pip: “How might it feel to be new somewhere?”
- At ‘Four chairs. Five friends.’: “How could the friends make room?”
- When they share the bench: “What did someone change to help another friend feel welcome?”
Listening quietly counts as joining in. A child can answer with a word, a gesture, or a drawing, or simply enjoy the story.
Make an ‘I’m thankful for…’ picture
- Choose a character coloring page, or draw your own Thanksgiving table on plain paper.
- Color the picture in any colors you like. There is no need to match the book.
- On a separate strip of paper, finish the sentence “I’m thankful for…” with words or a drawing. A grown-up can write down a younger child’s answer.
- Place the strip beside your picture. Invite each person to share if they would like to.
Encourage small, specific answers: someone who saved a seat, a friend who made you laugh, or a warm meal you enjoyed together. There is no required answer, and nobody has to share aloud.
Turn a thankful thought into a kind action
Choose one small thing to do together: invite someone into a game, help set the table, or tell a person what you appreciate about them. Ask, “Who could we make a little room for today?”
Keep your finished pictures near your family table, or tuck a thankful note into your book. The color-your-own Thanksgiving bookmarks offer another small coloring project; the full-color bookmarks are ready to print and trim with adult help.